Explorations in African American Quilting, Quilt History, Fabrics and other Fanciful Topics.

Sunday, July 04, 2010

Militant Needles - 1984 Quilt Exhibit

Going through old files, I came across this photocopied program quilt historian Joyce Gross sent to me. It's for "Militant Needles: An Exhibit of Slave-Made Quilts" curated by Gladys-Marie Fry, Ph.D. The 1984 exhibit featured eight quilts:

Floral Quilt, 1852, stitched by a slave called "Yellow Bill"

Eight-Petal Flower or Snowflake Quilt, early to mid-19th c., owned then by Mrs. Irma Koski of Arlington, VA

I sometimes wonder why I'm so driven to keep these bits of paper documenting African American quilt history. Then, I re-read this program on July 4th about "Militant Needles" and slave-made quilts and know it's worthwhile! Happy July 4th!